Here's your first look at the Apple Watch

Apple CEO Tim Cook took the stage at a much-anticipated product launch Tuesday at the Flint Center in Cupertino, California. (Fun note: The Flint Center is the same place where Steve Jobs launched the Mac 30 years ago.)
Cook began the event by introducing the new iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, followed by Apple's new mobile payment system, Apple Pay. He then moved on to reveal the long-rumored Apple Watch, a wearable smartwatch that features the much-hyped "sapphire" glass and a flexible retina display.
"Apple Watch is the most personal device we've ever created," Cook said at the event. The Apple Watch, which comes in two sizes and offers wireless charging, features a "digital crown," which "translates rotary movement into digital data," Cook explained. The digital crown ensures navigation accuracy and allows scrolling with ease, without having to pinch or block the watch's screen. Interestingly, the Apple Watch "recognizes the difference between a tap and a press" to enhance functionality. And, never fear, the watch will feature pop-up notifications from all your favorite apps, so you won't have to go a nanosecond without checking Twitter.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The Apple Watch will also include health and fitness tracking sensors, so you won't need to have a Fitbit/Apple Watch arm party, in addition to two new apps, Fitness and Workout. And don't worry about the gadget wrecking your style — the watch comes in six band types and in three different collections, so whether you want the "Watch Sport" version or something fancier, like the 18-carat gold "Watch Edition," you'll be able to wear your smartwatch in style. And speaking of individual style — Apple Watch has its own emoji with customizable faces, which, really, is reason alone to buy the thing. The biggest catch, though, is that you'll need an iPhone 5 or later to use the Apple Watch.
"It's amazing what you can do from your wrist," Cook concluded. Below, a first look at the Apple Watch, which starts at $349 and will be available "early next year," Cook said. --Meghan DeMaria
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Meghan DeMaria is a staff writer at TheWeek.com. She has previously worked for USA Today and Marie Claire.
-
'Extremists still find plenty of digital spaces'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
South Carolina to execute prisoner by firing squad
speed read Death row inmate Brad Sigmon prefers the squad over the electric chair or lethal injection, his lawyer said
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump eases Mexico, Canada tariffs again as markets slide
speed read The president suspended some of the 25% tariffs he imposed on Mexican and Canadian imports
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Apple pledges $500B in US spending over 4 years
Speed Read This is a win for Trump, who has pushed to move manufacturing back to the US
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Microsoft unveils quantum computing breakthrough
Speed Read Researchers say this advance could lead to faster and more powerful computers
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
TikTok's fate uncertain as weekend deadline looms
Speed Read The popular app is set to be banned in the U.S. starting Sunday
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Appeals court kills FCC net neutrality rule
Speed Read A U.S. appeals court blocked Biden's effort to restore net-neutrality rules
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Judge rejects Elon Musk's $56B pay package again
Speed Read Judge Kathaleen McCormick upheld her rejection of the Tesla CEO's unprecedented compensation deal
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
DOJ seeks breakup of Google, Chrome
Speed Read The Justice Department aims to force Google to sell off Chrome and make other changes to rectify its illegal search monopoly
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Racist texts tell Black people in US to prepare for slavery
Speed Read Recipients in at least a dozen states have been told to prepare to 'pick cotton' on slave plantations
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Australia proposes social media ban before age 16
Speed Read Australia proposes social media ban before age 16
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published